Complaints and student conduct

The Department of Governance and Legal Services is responsible for student conduct and the University Complaints Handling Procedure.

Complaints

Information on how to make a complaint can be found in the Complaints Handling Procedure.

Code of Student Conduct

The Code of Student Conduct focuses on the University’s expectations of positive student behaviour. It outlines behaviours that are not acceptable and can impact your studies. This includes:

• all forms of academic misconduct (cheating), including inappropriate use of AI, plagiarism, the use of a ghostwriter or other third party to write some or all an assessment on your behalf, cheating in exams and falsifying data or signatures of your supervisor or other staff
• inappropriate conduct including gender based violence; discriminatory, violent, bullying or harassing behaviour; theft; dishonesty; and behaviour resulting in criminal charges or conviction.

If you do not meet the required standards of behaviour, action will be taken in line with the Code of Student Conduct. You could be suspended, expelled or given penalties. This might mean you cannot receive your award.

A revised Code of Student Conduct for the Academic Year 2026/27 is available.

For conduct related to Academic Year 2025/26 or earlier, this version of the Code of Student Conduct will apply.

Guidance for students on the acceptable use of AI

Inappropriate use of IA in a University assessment is a breach of the Code of Student Conduct and could result in disciplinary action being taken. The University has prepared guidance on the appropriate use of generative AI by students for education purposes and students and staff are encouraged to familiarise themselves with it.

Information on academic integrity and the behaviours required of GCU students can be found in the Student Guide to Academic Integrity. This Guide also looks at plagiarism and contract cheating and signposts academic support available for students.

Additional guidance on plagiarism definitions and guidance on how to avoid plagiarism can be found on the Sir Alex Ferguson Library Guides pages.

The relevant proforma for use by staff in reporting and referring breaches of the Code of Student Conduct are available by contacting studentconduct@gcu.ac.uk.

Further advice and guidance on the Code of Student Conduct is available by contacting the Department of Governance and Legal Services (studentconduct@gcu.ac.uk).

Academic misconduct in research degrees

Non-academic misconduct by postgraduate research degree students is governed by the Code of Student Conduct. The regulations and procedures for academic misconduct in research degrees can be accessed at Academic Misconduct in Research Degrees.